Compare towns
Benton vs Durham vs Albion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Benton | Durham | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
4,262Highest |
2,204Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 05 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.